Home Bar Essentials Checklist

Bourbon

Cointreau or triple sec (some people swear Cointreau is worth the money even if you mix it)

Gin

Rum (light)

Scotch (blended)

Tequila (white)

Vermouth (dry)

Vermouth (sweet)

Vodka

Red

White

Light

Dark

Cola

Ginger ale

Club soda

Sparkling water

Tonic water

Cranberry juice

Orange juice

Angostura bitters

Green olives (pitted)

Lemons

Limes

Kosher salt

Maraschino cherries

Long cocktail spoon

Paring knife

Peeler

Cutting board

Corkscrew

Bottle opener

Juice squeezer

Standard shaker: The shaker should have a metal bottom and a metal lid with a strainer.

Jigger: Choose one with a 1-ounce measure on one side and 1 1/2 ounces on the other. Most recipes call for 1 1/2 ounces of alcohol (a jigger, or a shot), but some call for 1 ounce (a pony). If you don't have a jigger, 3 tablespoons are about equal to 1 1/2 ounces.

Bartending handbook. (Ultimate Bartender's Guide by Ray Foley, inventor of the Fuzzy Navel drink recipe!)

Cocktail napkins

Cocktail toothpicks

Swizzle sticks

Martini glasses

Highball glasses

All-purpose wineglasses